Video pedestal network
First Claim
1. A digital information distribution system comprising:
- a digital information stream server comprising;
means for storing a digital information stream of predetermined duration;
network adaptation means for transmitting digital information onto a first communication network on a predetermined channel;
request receiving means for receiving requests for said digital information stream from said first communication network;
scheduling means for directing said digital information stream to said network adaptation means for transmission over said first communication network on said predetermined channel at a predetermined time, if a request for said digital information stream is received by said request receiving means;
opportunistic programming means for directing digital information to said network adaptation means for transmission over said first communication network only if said digital information stream is not being transmitted;
a network interface coupled to said first communication network for connecting said first communication network to a plurality of subscriber units via a second communication network, said network interface comprising;
request receiving means for receiving requests originating from said subscriber units, said subscriber units including privileged subscriber units and non-privileged subscriber units;
request relay means for relaying only requests from privileged subscriber units for said digital information stream to said digital information stream server; and
means for relaying said digital information stream from said first communication network to said requesting ones of said privileged subscriber units via said second communication network.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An architecture for distributing digital information to subscriber units wherein selection from among multiple digital services is accomplished by transmitting a tuning command from a subscriber unit to an intermediate interface. The intermediate interface selects the desired service from a broadband network and transmits it to the subscriber unit over a bandwidth-constrained access line. The bandwidth-constrained access line may be implemented with existing infrastructure, yet the subscriber unit may access a wide variety of digital information available on the broadband network. Universal broadband access is thus provided at low cost. Output bandwidth of broadcast equipment may also be optimized.
92 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A digital information distribution system comprising:
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a digital information stream server comprising; means for storing a digital information stream of predetermined duration; network adaptation means for transmitting digital information onto a first communication network on a predetermined channel; request receiving means for receiving requests for said digital information stream from said first communication network; scheduling means for directing said digital information stream to said network adaptation means for transmission over said first communication network on said predetermined channel at a predetermined time, if a request for said digital information stream is received by said request receiving means; opportunistic programming means for directing digital information to said network adaptation means for transmission over said first communication network only if said digital information stream is not being transmitted; a network interface coupled to said first communication network for connecting said first communication network to a plurality of subscriber units via a second communication network, said network interface comprising; request receiving means for receiving requests originating from said subscriber units, said subscriber units including privileged subscriber units and non-privileged subscriber units; request relay means for relaying only requests from privileged subscriber units for said digital information stream to said digital information stream server; and means for relaying said digital information stream from said first communication network to said requesting ones of said privileged subscriber units via said second communication network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification